Buddha Gaya Thangka, Buddhist Traditional Painting, Real Gold, One Hundred Jataka, Newari

BUDDHA GAYA
The Buddhist Thangka painting known as “One Hundred Jataka” depicts the sacred site of Buddha Gaya and illustrates the stories of the Buddha’s previous lives, which are known as Jataka tales. This particular Thangka is a visual representation of the rich narrative tradition of the Jataka tales and holds significant cultural and religious value in Buddhism.
Buddha Gaya, also known as Bodh Gaya, is a renowned pilgrimage site located in the Indian state of Bihar. It is the place where Gautama Buddha, the historical Buddha, attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. The site is considered one of the most sacred places for Buddhists and attracts pilgrims from all over the world.

NEWARI PAUBHA
This Buddha Gaya is a newari thangka or Paubaha, Paubha, also known as “paubhas,” is a traditional religious painting created by the Newar people of Nepal. These exquisite artworks depict various subjects, including deities, mandalas, and monuments, and serve as aids for meditation and spiritual practices. Paubhas are similar to Tibetan Thangka paintings and are highly regarded for their religious and cultural significance.
While most paubhas portray Buddhist subjects, there are also a few that incorporate Hindu themes. The creation of these paintings is seen as a means of earning religious merit for both the artist and the patron. Newar Buddhists often commission skilled artists, primarily from the Chitrakar caste (known as Pun in Nepal Bhasa), to paint paubhas that are displayed during festivals and special occasions.

INTRODUCTION TO THANGKA
A thangka, also known as tangka, thanka, or tanka, is a vibrant and intricate Tibetan Buddhist painting that serves as a visual representation of spiritual teachings. Crafted with meticulous detail on cotton or silk appliqué, thangkas depict a wide range of subjects including Buddhist deities, sacred scenes, mandalas, and narrative stories. These sacred artworks are traditionally kept unframed and rolled up for storage, resembling ancient scrolls. To protect their delicate nature, thangkas are mounted on textile backings and often adorned with a silk cover on the front. Proper preservation in dry environments is crucial to maintain the integrity and longevity of the silk.

USE OF REAL GOLD
This thangka of Buddha Gaya has real gold painted on its surface along with other paints. This is an ancient process of decorating the thangka in Tibetan Buddhism, Here gold is ground into gold dust, which is then mixed with other undisclosed material to make it paintable on the canvas. this mixture is then mixed with transparent glue and painted on the thangka.